1. With regards to filiation among divine beings, and the
divinity of CHRIST, and hypostasis of the Word, questions are usually
asked which I shall clear with a few words. I say that from the beginning there
was among the divine beings a filiation, not real but personal. The Son was the
Word; the Son was not real but personal, in so far as it was the Person of
CHRIST. Nor is he in Scripture ever called Son, but an eternal kind of
generation is attributed to CHRIST, and the things that were in the law were a
shadow of the body of Christ. Yet some dream here of an emanation of a
conception, or a Word, from the divine mind, by means of an emanating filiation.
But their dreams carry little conviction unless they prove by Scripture that the
Word was a real Son; and these emanations are remains left over from the
emissions of the Valentinians [2nd century Gnostics];
these emissions or emanations from within are mathematical, and unknown to the
Scriptures. Even the word emanation smacks somewhat of the philosophical, which
can not be included in the Nature of God. For that which has emanated from God
is CHRIST himself, who came forth from the Father. But in God, within, there are
no goings forth, nor emanations; but CHRIST was formed beforehand in the divine
mind. There was a certain way of keeping himself which God arranged in himself
in order that he might manifest himself to us; namely, by representing in
himself the likeness of JESUS CHRIST, for all this was foreordained for
exhibiting the glory of CHRIST. And John did not say that the Word emanated from
God, but it was in God, the Word was God. [John 1:1]
{The logos, a way of speaking.} And logos does not signify reason,
that is an inner and philosophical conception of the understanding, or a mental
concept, as some fanciful say; but the logos is called a sort of speaking, it
means a vocal reason, as it were, and oral reasoning, corresponding to the
nature of the word Lego [to speak, as etymologically
related to logos]. Nor is it otherwise ever found in place of
reason among Greeks of approved speech; which you should note constantly. For the
deception consist solely in the imaginary nature of the word logos. {The
end of the disposition of the Word : that God may manifest himself.} And
consider well what the word lego properly signifies, and you shall see
that it means oracle, of which I have made mention above.

2. Again, their false imagination is seen in consequence of
the establishment of the divine economy; for God, of his mere good
pleasure, employed this kind of word for the purpose of disclosing himself to
us, just as he formerly disclosed himself (though dimly) through it. For the
Word was visible [According to Irenaeus the Word is visible];
and to all this John has regard, adding at once, No man hath seen God at any
time [John 1:18]. For he related the progress in the
Old Testament, comparing Moses with CHRIST; and you, unless you have regard to
the Old Testament, will never understand the New, because it is wholly derived
from the Old. But why do I search for other proofs, when it has been shown in
the preceding Book [Book VI, paragraph 8] that these
conceptions of the philosophers are nothing but imaginatively mathematical
delusions; and to any man of sense this will be the strongest of reasons; so
that it is necessary here to look upon the face of Elohim. There was, then, an
oracle, a hypostasis of God, a Person of CHRIST, the divinity which was
Son to God alone. Yet to us Christ alone is called Son. The being was future to
us; but to God nothing is future. There was in God the very image of a being
that to us was future; as if I now saw in a mirror a being that is not, but will
be tomorrow. For this is the height and the depth of the divine economy;
and the Word, which formerly was with God, has to us become the Son. And it
makes no difference, even if you say that the Son was with God; indeed, I say
that Christ was with God, who afterwards came and was incarnated.

3. {As to the second question} Paul is forever trying to
explain to us the deity in CHRIST, even with greater fullness than can be thought
out; but not through the union with a metaphysical Son. For why should the
Apostle exclaim at the great fullness and breadth, the unsearchable brightness of
the Godhead, the riches, glory, etc., that are in CHRIST? What need would there
have been of so many words, except to say that the second being was carnally
united with CHRIST, although this was never heard of in the Scriptures? If
therefore consider well, an investigation of Paul condemns their metaphysics.
But that I may the better explain this matter, I shall relate the origin of
these fancies about the Godhead. {Two very serious plauges, a leaven of
Aristotle, and ignorance of the Hebrew language, deprived us of Christ. And then
we lost Christ.} Paul of Samosata, previous to Arian and the trinitarian [Book
1, paragraph 48, note 2] philosophers, being entirely ignorant of the
mysteries of CHRIST which are hidden in the Hebrew, by maintaining that CHRIST
was a mere man, not God, and that he first existed then and not previously,
scandalized the Greek philosophers, who were ignorant of Hebrew, and infected by
the contagion of Aristotle, and force them to ascend to heaven without wings,
where any one who would begin to hunt for divinities in his own sense; and
immediately there arose a countless swarm of heretics. And I suppose it was a
sentence of divine punishment that the Pope was made King at the same time at
which the Trinity arose; even as God also raised up many adversaries against
Solomon at just the time of his sin [1 Kings 11:14, 23].

4. Let us then, that we may avoid such labyrinths of errors,
speak of his divinity more soberly; and we have above in many ways searched into
these riches in CHRIST, although I seem to myself to have said nothing in
comparison with his worth; nor could Paul set this forth otherwise than by
exclaiming, Length, breadth, treasures, mysteries [Eph. 3:18;
Col. 1:27]! Nevertheless I shall recall to mind certain things that
proclaim his divinity, of which the root is that you keep in memory that he was
Elohim. And from this you will consider the depth of the mystery, how he was in
the oracle with the Father from the beginning, and in what way he is really the
Father now, as he was personally in him before. {Christ makes angels of this
light, for it was not the quality, but the natural splendor of God.} We have
mentioned above the brightness of his face, from which the whole world is to be
lighted; although the philosophers consider that the face of his human nature,
like that of another man, is now in heaven, and superfluous. But the divine
transfiguration on the mount, and the vision of Paul, confounds them. They close
their eyes, lest they see him shouting from heaven and saying, He that seeth me
seeth the Father [John 14:9]. This vision alone, if you
often enjoy it, will transport you quite to heaven, and cleanse you from all
error.

5. Another proclamation of his divinity, which surpasses all
these, is the Father abiding in him, who is seen by him alone. He himself is the
face of the Father, nor is there any other Person of God but CHRIST; there is no
other hypostasis of God but him. {There is no other face, nor person, nor
hypostasis of God, sae Christ} Christ is honored by the presence of the
Father more than he can be honored through their metaphisics. They say that one
portion, I say that the whole Nature, of God is in him. In him is the whole
Deity of the Father, in so much that even the angels marvel at this. {Here are
two Natures in Christ; the whole Nature and power of God are in the man.} And not
only is God present in him, but the whole authority of God has been given him.
Although they ascribe none of these things to the man, yet I say that he is God
and Lord of the world. The glory of the Father is in his spirit to a much more
exceptional degree than the light can appear in his face. It would then dim this
manifold fullness of Deity to be contented with a mere union with the second
being; nor can this be done, unless you make the Son separate from the Father,
or remove the Father from CHRIST; for there is in him nothing that can be called
Son save the Father himself alone; therefore CHRIST is called the Son, and the
Father is in the Son. If they speak to you of some ray [As the
say to the sun, was one of the illustrations by which was explained the relation
of the Son to the Father.] in the man, you may quote against them the
words of the Master, namely: The Father is in me; the Father abiding in me [John
10:38; 14:10, 11; 17:21]. And in heeding these words no one can ever be
deceived; nor have they been able to find out like words against you. And their
error as to the mathematical ray arises from the Word of John not being
understood. They believe that the ray was united, another to become flesh.
Again, John did not say, The Word became flesh [John 1:14],
as they take it; but The Word was flesh, the Word existed as flesh; and
this the proper meaning of Ho logos sarx egeneto [the Word
became flesh]. For that which was the Person of the Word is now Christ
himself. Would that we had read, The Word was flesh; just as it says in
the same place, There was a man sent from God [John 1:6];
for it is the same word in the Greek eyeveto {forgive my limitations,
there should be a ’ over the first e and a ´ over the second e, RDH} [became,
or was; also in the three references following]. Likewise, all things were
through him, and without him there was nothing [John 1:3];
as also, He spake and they were [Ps. 33:9]; God
said, Let there be light, and light was [Gen. 1:3].
For the Hebrew word here has this perfectly clear meaning; and John used the
word which God used at the beginning of the world; and in place of Hahyah
[was] he uses eyeveto [because or was], as the
Greek translation also clearly shows; even as he also used Logos [word]
in place of Dabar [word]. The older writers say that man was blended,
rather than united, with God. But even if you say that man was united with God,
or God united with man, or that a kind of Deity was united with CHRIST, I shall
not condemn you; this, however, is not by way of filiation, for this Idiotes
[peculiar quality.] or kind of filiation is in man alone,
nor was this Idiotes [peculiar quality] naturally
appropriate To Logos [to the Word], except in so
far as it was a figure [Caelatura,
a figure carved in releif; and so where the word is used below.] of the
man. And this is the view of Irenaeus [Adv. Haer. V, I, 3], and also of
Tertullian [Adv. Praxean xxvii], who say that the change was made from the Word
to flesh, and that along with this a kind of Deity was blended and united with
the man, because God in CHRIST is just this.

6. For there are two things to be considered, the being and
the Person. {Elohim, in Person man, and in Nature God; which you should keep
perpetually in mind.} God is the being itself, and the Word is the disposition,
and the Word was God; and every quality in the Nature of the Word has passed
over to the man, who is now in God in the same way in which the Word was
formerly with God. And with this the being itself is altogether united and
blended [Assuming that innixa in the text is a misprint
for immixta, as used in the preceding paragraph.]; because God
was in CHRIST, reconciling the world [2 Cor. 5:19]. Again, consider
what the expression, figure means, and you shall see that you have been
deceived by you mathematical fancy, for the very thing was, was a figure
of CHRIST. A text is clear which to former ages was unintelligible: I will
carve, he says, his figure [Zech. 3:9]. In the
Hebrew this is what it says: Hinneni mephatteach pittuchah, [Behold,
I will engrave his engraving.], that is Behold I, carving, or laying
bare, his figure or image, just as an artificer fashions a statue by carving a
stone and laying it bare. For Pathach [to open, hence to
carve] means, as it were, to carve a stone by laying bare, and a
graving-tool to uncover a hidden form; and in this way, when the divine stone
was cutout of the mountain [Dan. 2:45], the form in it
which formerly lay hidden in darkness was laid bare. With this the Chaldee
interpreter [i.e. Targum, the Aramaic version of the Old
Testament] agrees, who renders it, Who turns his face to be revealed; for
thus the Targum of Jonathan has it, Ha ana laley hezyathaha [Aram.], that
is, Behold, I reveal, or open, his vision. And, to say it in a word, both the
law and all the prophets very frequently mingle with their histories and
prophecies of CHRIST the words face, statue, hidden, concealed, habitation,
shadow, because the Spirit of the Lord has carved these words (which
CHRIST says [Luke 24:27; Matt. 11:13], were written of him in the law and all
the prophets), that under the silver figure may be hidden the golden word which
by the secret purpose of God is concealed in historic types as if under a kind
of covering even as CHRIST himself was covered under figures; and to wish, apart
form this consideration, to apply the prophecies to CHRIST is to be wanting in
sense, in which matter the Jews accuse us with good reason.

7. {To the third question.} It is nothing to the prejudice of
the hypostasis of the Word that I have said that it is the voice of God.
For even Peter says that there was a foreknowledge of CHRIST, by which he was
foreknown and foreordained before the foundation of the world, and was manifest
afterwards [1 Pet. 1:20]. And this is just what Jeremiah calls the intents of
his heart [Jer. 23:20; 30:24]. Yet the Sophists here
will hear of nothing else, generally speaking, than that CHRIST was predestined
even as one of us. But far from me be such folly. They will not marvel at
miracles of divine contrivance, so that they prefer to admit that God can not
have especial regard to one particular being rather than another without any
qualities. The Son was begotten of God by a distinct and special word, as truly
begotten as the world was created. Indeed, by the same power of utterance by
which he begot him, he created the world, made light, and gave beings their
life; {Light and life are through him. John 1:4.} and in no other way will he
give us life than by the generation of the Son. Again, God made himself visible
according to the likeness of CHRIST; and he governed the world by that oracle
just as CHRIST now governs it. CHRIST was then with God in power, in the Word,
and in Person. If all these things apply to them as well as to CHRIST let the
Sophists say that they were predestined to be Christ's.

8. This hypostasis, therefore, John commends to us by
saying, The Word was [John 1:1], and he shows that
it was visible. For he declares to us a being that can be perceived, just as he,
also, understood it by perception. Nor is it any objection if you say that he
knew this by revelation of the Holy Spirit; for the revelation of the Holy
Spirit is adapted to the capacity of man, otherwise it were a delusion and not
revelation. For John was a man, and had a common intelligence, even as we. Paul
also appeals to visions and revelations [2 Cor. 12:1]; and
so ot always says, The vision of the Prophet, the vision of the Prophecy.
Reflect and consider what it is that is representing itself to the mind of john
when he begins to relate. For when we relate a deed we say that only that was
which we perceive, and only the likeness of the oracle was in the mind of John;
hence that was a divinity, he well said, which began to be called a Person by
the older writers for the reason that a face was represented. {Consider here why
it began to be called a Person.} And the Greek article helps somewhat here, as
if pointing out visibly; and a like article is wont to be added in the Hebrew:
in the beginning was the speech, the oracle. Lift up your eyes and
see.

9. Nor is the case different with the Holy Spirit; for he who
feels that there is a spirit in himself speaks of it as distinctly as if he
would point it out with his finger. But this being is unknown to the
philosophers. Nevertheless, the power of the dispositions of God is in
the highest degree admirable, so that they thus exhibit the hypostasis of
a visible being. {The very one whom you see with your eyes moves the Spirit
within.} And Scripture speaks distinctly of those things that are distinctly
perceived; attends rather to our capacity, or ways of perceiving, than to our
philosophies. But we are mad, being unwilling to be instructed from that which
adapts itself to us so closely, and bids us try and prove ourselves whether we
perceive the Spirit in us, rather than inquire what being it is, or of what
Nature. For I have often borne witness that in Scripture there is never any
treatment of the Natures. Consider furthermore whether (if you were John the son
of Zebedee, and not a philosopher), if you heard the voice of a being whom you
do not see, having kept the thought of the voice, you would say, when about to
tell of it afterwards, The voice was so and so, and it kept itself thus and so.
Much more, then, could this be said of the Word that was visible and had
existence. This is the hypostasis of the oracle which John and his elder
disciples recommended by the word, being; for there was an existence
there which could be perceived by itself, and a clear apprehension of the Person
whose brightness, as John says, the darkness did not apprehend [John
1:5]. Indeed, nothing else than the oracle seemed to exist; hence it says
of the Word alone, It was. {It never says of the third being, It was.}

10. This same hypostasis David recommends to us by the word, Jah.
Speaking of Elohim CHRIST he bids up praise him by his name, which is JAH, that
is the existing substance of a hypostasis. Exalt by his name Jah, he
says, him that rideth through the deserts [Ps. 68:4].
Likewise, speaking of CHRIST, he says that a people shall be created shall
praise Jah [Ps. 102:18], that is, him who exists, who is CHRIST; just as he
himself says, I am [Ex. 3:14]. Moses also in his song
calls him Jesua, Jah, EL and Elohim [Ex. 15:2]. And because he is called Jah,
the Father is called Jehovah; that is, he will give being to him that exists, or
will make him to be CHRIST. Elohim CHRSIT himself recommends the same hypostasis
of himself, saying, I shall be that I shall be [Ex. 3:14 (Pagn.)].
And after he became flesh, CHRIST himself said that he was, and was from the
beginning [John 8:58], because the Father caused him to be
Jah, that is a hypostasis, even from the beginning. And CHRIST is called Josheb
kedem [Ps. 55:19], that is, he that abideth of old, or
remaineth from the beginning. Wonderfully well, then, did John, being instructed
by the Master, say, He was; since CHRIST said before, I shall be;
and David said, being. And once again the Master, I am from the beginning
[John 8:58], and in the Apocalypse, Who was, who is,
who is to come [Rev. 1:4, 8; 4:8]. See the craftiness
of the devilish spirit, by which the truth is nevertheless praised. Simon Magus,
in order that he might throw the preaching of Christ into confusion, had himself
called, He that standeth, and said that he was He that standeth
from the beginning, so that those that did not believe him might not believe
Christ either. Indeed, after the likeness of Christ he said that he was the one
that had given the law to Moses on Mount Sinia; for all this is very truly said
of Christ [Acts 8:9-24; Clementine Recognitions, I, lxxii; II,
vii, xi; Homilies, II, xxiv (MPG. i, 1246, 1251, 1254; ii, 91; ANF. Viii, 96,
99, 100, 233; ANCL. iii, 189, 196, 199; xvii, 43)].

11. Since, then, in consequence of this examination, things
stand thus, reflect whether, if the Gospel by John had not yet been written, if
no mention had ever in the world been made of the Trinity, but a mention had
arisen only about the Person of Christ, and Ebion and Cerinthus [Ebion,
erroniously supposed founder of the Ebionites, heretical Jewish Christians who
denied the virgin birth of Christ. cf. Origen, contra Celsum, v, 61; Tertullian,
adv. omnes haeres., iii (MPG. xi, 12787; ANF. iv, 570; iii, 651; ANCL. xxiii,
330 ff., xviii, 265). Certinthus, a Gnostic teacher at the end of the first
century, who taught that Jesus was the son of Joseph. cf. Irenaeus, adv. haeres.
I, xxvi, 1, III, xi, 1 (MPG. vii, 686, 880; ANF. i, 351 f., 426; ANCL. v, 97,
287 f.).] were appearing again, you could explain the matter in more
suitable words. Nor do I think that a mind capable of reasoning can penetrate
the subject so that so great a matter can be better related in few words, and so
agreeably to all other Scriptures of both the Old Testament and the New. For
just by raising my eyes I see the oracle coming from everlasting in the vision
of John [Rev. i, 7], see JESUS CHRIST coming on the clouds
of heaven with Daniel watching him [Dan. vii, 13], riding
in the chariot of Ezekiel [Ezek. i,], and among the
myrtle-trees of Zechariah [Zech. i, 8, 10, 11], and seated
upon the throne of Isaiah [Isa. vi, 1]. And since this was
a contrivance of the divine reason, I am bound to say that it was the Logos. Nor
can I better explain this otherwise than by saying, It was; and for this reason
Irenaeus [Adv. haeres. II, ii, 4, 5; IV, vi, 1-6; xx, 1-4; V,
xviii (MPG. vii, 714 ., 986-989, 1032-1034, 1172-1175; ANF. i, 361 f., 467-469,
487 f., 546 f.; ANCL. v, 122 f., 389-392, 439-441; ix, 103-106).], while
never abandoning the words of John, even though he does not actually distinguish
the Logos from the Father, yet never fails to magnify this hypostasis of
the Word, always employing this distinct way of speaking. And along with this,
he always had his aim fixed upon Christ; and if you have yours fixed likewise,
you will admit far more concerning the Word or oracle, provided that when there
has been mention of the Son you do not turn away from Christ, for the Word came
to be flesh [John i, 14]. Behold, I myself that spoke
am here;[Isa. lii, 6 (Vulg.)] and, They shall see
eye to eye [Isa. lii, 8.]. What blind man even does
not see this? I am he, the very one whom you perceive with your eyes and touch
with your hands. The likeness of God is now a body. This was the same as God,
and this is now the same as man, and remains God, and is in God as heretofore.
It was hitherto a certain kind of divine reason, hence a logos; but it is
now in the form as a man, like unto us, the form of God shining forth in a man;
it has put on flesh, as it were, although this is the same as man mingled with
divinity. Likewise, if you read Ignatius [Ep. ad Ephes. vii,
xviii, xx; ad Magnes. vi, viii, xi; ad Trall. x; ad Smyrn. i, ii; ad Polyc. iii
(MPG. v, 650 f. 659, 662, 667, 670 f. 682, 707-710, 722; ANF. i, 52, 57, 61-63,
70, 86 f., 94; ANCL. i, 153 f., 165, 168, 177 f., 180, 184, 202, 240 f., 260).],
the disciple of John the Evangelist, you will find the same expression as in
Irenaeus; and I beg you to observe this and not to depart from the ancient
tradition in a single point, and then you will easily reject all the new
inventions, blasphemies, and follies of our age.

12. The matter will turn out to be far more easy if we do not
overlook the Hebraisms here, seeing that John was a Hebrew. For everything that
exists, of whatever kind it is, and the doing of anything whatever, is called by
the Hebrews a word; and in this sense the Word concerning the Christ to
come was already from the beginning with God, since it was already being
discussed in the secret councils of God. And the Hebrews, when they have any
business to do, say, I have a word with you; and, He sent his word [Ps.
cvii, 20; cxlvii, 18.], when he spoke in order that anything might be
done anywhere; and, A word went forth from the face of the king [Dan.
ii, 15 Vulg.)]; I will bring my word [Jer. xxv, 13;
xxxix, 16]; Thy word shall come [Apparently two
different renderings of Judges xiii, 17]; When that comes which thou
hast said [Second rendering of Judges xiii, 17]. And
thus Manoah said to the angel, When thy word comes, and When thy word
has come [Judges xiii, 12, 17 (Pagn.)], namely, that
which thou hast spoken concerning Samuel. {I believe that Samson
is actually intended instead of Samuel.} And, Until there come word
form you and tell me [II Sam. xv, 28 (Pagn.)]; and, When
the word of the prophet shall come [Jer. xxviii, 9 (Pagn.)].
And in this sense came the Word which was already with God from the beginning,
until the matter went so far that the mystery was revealed, and the Word came to
be flesh. And thus these Hebraisms teach us not a little as to the hypostasis
of the Word, as I said [See paragraph 7], without being at
all prejudicial. By a like Hebraism is verified what the shepherds said: Let
us see this word that is come to pass [Luke ii, 15].
And, To you is the word of this salvation sent forth [Acts
xiii, 26 (Vulg.)]; and The word told to you through the Gospel [I
Pet. i, 25]; and, He committed unto us the word of reconciliation [II
Cor. v, 19]. But, passing by these things which are rather remote from
our design, let us take others which are more to the purpose; and there is an
example which manifestly pertains to this figure of the Word of CHRIST, where it
says, when the Israaelites were pinning away in the desert, He sent his word
and healed them [Ps. cvii, 20 (Vulg.)]. And Joseph,
being sent by God into Egypt, was kept in fetters until his word came [Ps.
cv, 17-19 (Vulg.)]. And, The Lord sent a word into Jacob [Isa.
ix, 8], because he declared the overthrow of the ten tribes; and, After
seventy years are passed in Babel, I will arouse my word [Jer.
xxix, 10 (Pagn.)]. And he afterwards aroused the same word concerning
CHRIST [Jer. xxxiii, 14]. Likewise it says, Thine
all-powerful word, leaping from heaven [Wisdom xviii, 15],
because he said that at midnight the firstborn should be slain. For this going
forth is the interpretation of what the Lord had said, I will go out in the
midst of Egypt [Ex. xi, 4]. For Peter explained to us
above that Christ was the author of all these things; for Jehovah [Servetus
has the tetragrammaton here] went forth by his oracle; and thus the
Chaldee version [The Targums] very often interprets these
things through the noun, word. You see, therefore, that the expression of
the sacred language in which these mysteries are laid down, constrains us to say
that on account of the divine action and disposition, the Word went,
came, and was sent; for CHRIST wrought all these things, and the oracle went to
kill and to save them, just as afterwards it came to save us by manifestation of
itself.

13. If we would here add anything else in our sense, we can
not but go astray, and in the end there will be a war of words. For these two
rules are infallible: first, that we can not be divide the Nature of God;
second, that which is accident of the Nature is a disposition. From the
fact that Dabar [Hebrew for word, thing] means thing
[Res, thing, being.], some
draw the conclusion that there are several beings. But this meaning of the word
points in another direction; for when it says that God makes a good word, a bad
word, it is a Hebraism, which is not free from mystery, but indicates a causal
quality of the word. Just as no word means to them much the same as nothing;
because in that case God did not speak. And the Prophets, whey they prophesy
some future thing, are wont to add that the Lord hath spoken it; for they
intimate that the word of God belongs to everything, to every action. For he
speaks, and they are done, and nothing is done unless he speaks; yet this is not
to say that dabar is the absolute equivalent of res.

14. In fine, you sahll consider the divine purpose as though
the world were to be created to-day, and in what way God determined to do it;
and from this you will understand his oeconomy, both in the creation of
the world and in the giving of the law, which things all lead to the glory of
CHRIST. For all things take their rise from the personal existence of CHRIST in
God. For CHRIST is Elohim our king, who from the beginning is working
salvation in the midst of the earth [Ps. lxxiv, 12].
Even as according to the Apostle it also says of the same one, Thou in the
beginning didst lay the foundation of the earth [Heb. i, 10].
It is he whose voice shook the heaven and the earth [Heb. xii,
26; Ps. lxxvi, 8]. And he who saw ascending into heaven is the same who
had first descended [Eph. iv, 9]. The same one said in the
Apocalypse and in Isaiah, I am the first, I am the last [Rev.
i, 17; xxii, 13; Isa. xliv, 6; xlviii, 12]. He is the visible God who
created the world, and appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is the God of
the law and the Prophets. And with this we absolutely admit that the God of the
law and the Prophets is the Father of JESUS CHRIST, which seems a contradiction.
From this teaching of the Apostles, wrongly understood, some of the ancient
Heretics said that above the God who created the world there was another
invisible God. For they were dreaming about the mystery of CHRIST. For they were
dreaming about the mystery of CHRIST. They did not understand that it could take
place without contradiction that this very oracle was with God, and was God
himself; and that, although the oracle was God, yet it was the oracle, and not
God himself, that came to be flesh. The spirit here settles wonderful
oppositions. The very profound words of John not only explain the whole law
concerning Jehovah and Elohim, but they dispose of all the heresies. I am
speaking of the ancient heresies, which were rather near the truth; for the
absurdities of the Greeks arose afterwards. They do not approach the teaching of
John, but are worthy of philosophers without sense. [Margin note:
Nature and Person; for it is the hyposasis itself, or the Person made
flesh; but by no means the being itself, and this is the Patripassian fallacy.]

15. Finally, I describe to you visibly the practice and the
way of coming to Christ, that by seeing him you may see the Father. It is first
to be premised that God is in all ways incomprehensible, unimaginable; nor can
we form any conception of God himself unless he adapts himself to us under some
form which we are capable of perceiving; and this the Master shows us in John v,
37. Secondly: he, out of the mere good pleasure of his will, determined to
manifest himself to the world through his oracle, as if I were to make my voice
heard among those who do not see me; and thus at the time of the law, he was
manifested to all the people [Ex. xix, 16]. Thirdly: he
manifested himself to the Prophets by his oracle more clearly, yet obscurely
under the form of a kind of pattern, in whose likeness Adam was formed; since in
his oracle there shown forth the original image, or the first figure of the
world, namely, CHRIST. Fourthly: from what has been said above, learn what has
been clearly and distinctly manifested to us; for the oracle has come to be
flesh, and we have seen him.

16. Out of this two questions seem to arise, namely: that God
was a body, or that Christ may be a phantasm, each of which John disposes of.
Yet note how clearly the fancies of the ancient heresies about this dilemma
teach us the truth. The Trinity had not yet come within the memory of man. From
the time of the Arian philosophers the way of investigating the truth has been
closed. John, therefore, that no one might fancy that there are bodily forms in
God, explained that this was the logos; that is, that in the very reason
of God there existed a disposition of this mystery. For in whatever way
God had assumed a personal form, he must needs have been the logos.
Secondly: that he might dispose of the phantasm, he called it flesh, saying that
the divine being came to be flesh, and we have seen him, and he has given us a
mind to know him, and the Father through him, to whom be glory and dominion
forever, Amen, Amen, ever world without end. Selah. [Margin Note:
Questions had them arisen concerning the Person of Christ]

THE ENDNote: As I have stated elsewhere, there are
aspects of Servetus' views which I do not agree with. However, the very fact that he was willing to go against the "Orthodox"
view of
his day, (held by virtually everyone!) even in the face of death was an admirable thing. There are two major issues of
which I am in agreement with Servetus: Anti-trinitarian, & infant baptism. It was these two issues
that brought about his death.
Issues such as "spiritual flesh," etc. I do not adhere to.
RDH